Wednesday, November 9, 2016

Two thoughts after election day

1. I used to have sincere confidence in the safeguards of the U.S. constitution, and a naïve trust that my countrymen would never render me an agent of oppression. The past six years have made me more cynical, and yesterday was a dismaying wake-up call that this trust was misplaced.

It’s going to be an embarrassing few years for an American living abroad. I know not what is about to come, but whatever it is, I’m so sorry.

2. Donald Trump is many things. He is racist. He is misogynistic. He is hateful – callous and meanspirited towards the plight of those less fortunate than he. He is narcissistic beyond measure. He is a pompous douchebag and lots of other unsavory adjectives.

But let it never again be scoffed that Donald Trump is an idiot, because he proved last night that he is smarter than most of us. He is a marketing genius. He understands brand control better than anyone. He understands human nature, and for the past 18 months has had his finger on the pulse of this nation more closely than any pollster or pundit. Practically every major newspaper, website, politician, polling agency, government official, political party, celebrity and foreign government the world over pulled out the works to stop this guy, and he outsmarted all of them.

You don’t have to like the guy to acknowledge and remark upon the enormity of that accomplishment. Donald Trump may be an asshole, but he’s also a fucking badass.